Shortcode subscriptions are double opt-in on Vodacom?

Going to be interesting...

...how do you unsubscribe after being "accidentally" subscribed to one such WASP?
 
Jumping the gun to get some free publicity?

Smart move lads

Correctly implemented mesh will be a great nail in the coffin of illegal wasp activities if the description is accurate
 
Vodacom this is great just should of been done from the beginning!
The cynic in me just wonders if this preempts a consumer commission decision?
 
biometrics said:
What is "double opt-in"?
Click to expand...

It's like when you try and turn on 'sharing' in Windows....

It prompts you with:

"Are you sure?"

then

"Are you really sure?"

then

"Are you realy sure, you're really sure?"

Basically so no-one can claim they've did not subscribe to a service. :)

Had a case like this last week:

Sub got billed for a service she claims she never subscribed to. Got the WASP to pull the logs and all the subscriptions actions are there, including confirmation SMS's sent.

Sub claims she never got any SMS's. Pull the logs from the SMSC's. All SMS's were delivered as per the WASP records when they sent it.

Sub still claims she never subscribed to the naughty content. ;)

Double Opt-in will hopefully resolve many of these.
 
The_Librarian said:
Going to be interesting...

...how do you unsubscribe after being "accidentally" subscribed to one such WASP?
Click to expand...

MESH offers a global opt out and allows consumers to opt out at network level, which is Vodacom.

Can now openly admit that MIRA was the WASP I was employed with (no longer in the industry) and it was great to see the integration of MESH finally happening - it was a long integration process.

The biggest issue with subscription billed queries where recycled sims where the new owner was being billed for subscription services by the previous owner and then accidental subscriptions from WAP sites would be the next one. A lot of queries where also consumers just trying to figure how to unsubscribe from services they knowingly subscribed to.
 
biometrics said:
Will it be a requirement or will it be optional?
Click to expand...

Will be a requirement and Vodacom must just force other networks to integrate with MESH ASAP. MESH will eventually replace their current billing platform but it looks like revenue effecting actions are always Vodacoms first concern.
 
jannievanzyl said:
It's like when you try and turn on 'sharing' in Windows....

It prompts you with:

"Are you sure?"

then

"Are you really sure?"

then

"Are you realy sure, you're really sure?"

Basically so no-one can claim they've did not subscribe to a service. :)

Had a case like this last week:

Sub got billed for a service she claims she never subscribed to. Got the WASP to pull the logs and all the subscriptions actions are there, including confirmation SMS's sent.

Sub claims she never got any SMS's. Pull the logs from the SMSC's. All SMS's were delivered as per the WASP records when they sent it.

Sub still claims she never subscribed to the naughty content. ;)

Double Opt-in will hopefully resolve many of these.
Click to expand...

I must admit I've had subs for stuff I never agreed to. I guarantee you it's a stuff up with the myriad of opt outs I've had to reply to after being put on some ****ing contact list.

Two "No" replies does not equal a yes either!
 
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PsyWulf said:
Jumping the gun to get some free publicity?

Smart move lads

Correctly implemented mesh will be a great nail in the coffin of illegal wasp activities if the description is accurate
Click to expand...

MESH is even better, the double opt in is done on network level and not WASP so no WASP can claim a system failure on their side. Then regular reminders of subscriptions and how to correctly unsubscribe. Also mention before their is a global opt out. I was personally not involved so working from memory.
 
jannievanzyl said:
It's like when you try and turn on 'sharing' in Windows....

It prompts you with:

"Are you sure?"

then

"Are you really sure?"

then

"Are you realy sure, you're really sure?"

Basically so no-one can claim they've did not subscribe to a service. :)

Had a case like this last week:

Sub got billed for a service she claims she never subscribed to. Got the WASP to pull the logs and all the subscriptions actions are there, including confirmation SMS's sent.

Sub claims she never got any SMS's. Pull the logs from the SMSC's. All SMS's were delivered as per the WASP records when they sent it.

Sub still claims she never subscribed to the naughty content. ;)

Double Opt-in will hopefully resolve many of these.
Click to expand...
Can I then finally be rid of the vodacom spam I get from time to time about ZOMG this offer and ZOMG that offer ?
 
Hardly jumping the gun, and weird that Vodacom say they don't know of a go-live date. Companies are going live with Mesh from tomorrow and the final cut-off is at 3 October at the moment, but of course everyone won't be ready by then so they'll probably extend it. Still, Mesh is live right now, just not adopted by every WASP.

They will be forced to by 3 October or whenever Vodacom chooses to extend that too. Only exception is that old subscriptions (users not services) don't have to go through Mesh.
 
If this pans out it will close a dirty chapter in this industry.
 
The fact that WASPs have accepted it so easily makes me think they've already found loopholes! Cynical I know, but a gut feeling none the less!
 
BGE said:
The fact that WASPs have accepted it so easily makes me think they've already found loopholes! Cynical I know, but a gut feeling none the less!
Click to expand...

Actually Vodacom is forcing it onto the WASPS. Soon WASPS will only be able to do billing through MESH and not the normal platform. WASPS have no choice in the matter, its either use MESH or close your doors.
 
Finally something right. What can I say.

phaktza said:
I must admit I've had subs for stuff I never agreed to. I guarantee you it's a stuff up with the myriad of opt outs I've had to reply to after being put on some ****ing contact list.

Two "No" replies does not equal a yes either!
Click to expand...
This is what worries me too. If it is left to the WASP it's entirely possible to still be billed for something you didn't opt-in to. The entire subscription model should have been done from a network end from the start like premium SMS and not left up to the WASPs.

I want a confirmation SMS from Vodacom itself. Anything less I will still fight if there are any fraudulent charges.

jannievanzyl said:
Had a case like this last week:

Sub got billed for a service she claims she never subscribed to. Got the WASP to pull the logs and all the subscriptions actions are there, including confirmation SMS's sent.

Sub claims she never got any SMS's. Pull the logs from the SMSC's. All SMS's were delivered as per the WASP records when they sent it.

Sub still claims she never subscribed to the naughty content. ;)

Double Opt-in will hopefully resolve many of these.
Click to expand...
Only sent SMSes and no received SMSes? :confused: :rolleyes: ;)
 
Accenture and Vodacom don't know how to write decent software at all. This entire process has been a massive cluster****.
 
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